Sun, 07/30/2017 - 15:24

Ransom the Moon, Drefong to take different paths to Breeders' Cup

Benoit & Associates
A riderless Drefong ranges up outside of Ransom the Moon in the stretch run of Saturday's Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Both Ransom the Moon and Drefong came out of an eventful Bing Crosby on Saturday in good order, their trainers said Sunday morning at Del Mar, but they likely will take a different path toward a potential rematch in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint here on Nov. 4.

Sun, 07/30/2017 - 14:55

Navarro plotting backward from Breeders' Cup for Vanderbilt winner El Deal

Barbara D. Livingston
El Deal is a maybe for the Vosburgh next, said trainer Jorge Navarro.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Jorge Navarro said El Deal was “on the quiet side” but otherwise exited his breakthrough performance, an eight-length triumph under jockey Javier Castellano in Saturday’s Grade 2 Vanderbilt, in good order after returning to his Monmouth Park base later that evening.

Sun, 07/30/2017 - 14:04

Jockey Ochoa sent to hospital after morning spill, seems unhurt

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Juan Ochoa appeared to escape serious injury Sunday morning at Del Mar when he was tossed from a horse he was working and was hit by the horse's hoof, sending him to a local hospital for observation.

Ochoa was aboard a horse trained by Sal Gonzalez Jr. The horse broke from the gate, then stumbled, dislodging Ochoa. The rider lay on the ground for several minutes before being attended to by medical personnel.

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 15:12

New Money Honey may make Alabama Stakes her dirt debut

Barbara D. Livingston
New Money Honey (right) and Sistercharlie (left) topped a Chad Brown trifecta with Uni (not pictured) in the Belmont Oaks.

SARATOGA S PRINGS, N.Y. - New Money Honey is a multiple Grade 1 winner on turf, but the 3-year-old filly may be heading to the dirt for her next start.

New Money Honey worked a half-mile in 48.64 seconds over the Saratoga main track Saturday morning in what could be a first step toward a start in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes here Aug. 19. Under Javier Castellano, New Money Honey worked outside of the 3-year-old maiden filly Devine Union. The two went their first quarter in 23.93 seconds and the second quarter in 24.71 going very easily.

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 14:38

Union Strike will miss Test Stakes at Saratoga

Shigeki Kikkawa
Union Strike finished off the board in her first two tries going two turns, but trainer Mick Ruis is optimistic she will perform better in the Eight Belles.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Union Strike, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last September, will miss the Grade 1 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga on Aug. 5 because of an undisclosed injury.

Owner and trainer Mick Ruis said Saturday that Union Strike will be out of training for 90 days.

“We’ll back off for 90 days,” Ruis said. “She has a little issue. She doesn’t need surgery.”

Ruis said he hopes Union Strike can resume racing “after Christmas” at Santa Anita’s winter meeting.

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 13:59

Keen Ice turns in strong work for Whitney

Barbara D. Livingston
Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit has an easy breeze Saturday ahead of next month's Grade 1 Travers Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher was all smiles when reflecting on Keen Ice’s final work for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney, an easy half-mile in 49.11 seconds punctuated by a sparkling gallop-out into and around the clubhouse turn.

Working in company Saturday with the 3-year-old Patch, Keen Ice began to assert his class nearing the wire, edging two lengths clear while well in reserve before accelerating into the clubhouse bend, completing five-eighths in 1:01.52 and three-quarters in 1:13.84 before pulling up seven furlongs in 1:27.41.

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 13:58

Arrogate still pointing to Pacific Classic, has Woodward as backup

Emily Shields
Arrogate will 'be ready for the Pacific Classic,' trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – One week after Arrogate’s shockingly dull try in the San Diego Handicap, trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday at Del Mar said he still intended to make the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic here on Aug. 19 with Arrogate, but he left open the possibility of heading to Saratoga for the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 2 if he deems Arrogate needs more time.

Fri, 07/28/2017 - 15:36

Team behind Haskell contender Girvin aims for Grade 1 milestone

Barbara D. Livingston
Girvin, the star of owner Brad Grady's racing stable, trains at Saratoga on July 16 under trainer Joe Sharp.

For most owners, being on the wrong side of a photo in a $500,000 race might take years to get over. But for Brad Grady, there was a silver lining to last month’s Ohio Derby, where his Girvin finished second by a nose to Irap. It was a good advertisement for the pinhooking side of his business.

“We actually bought Irap as a yearling, sold him as a 2-year-old in training,” Grady said of himself and agent Bobby Dodd. “He’s a graduate of ours.”

Fri, 07/28/2017 - 15:26

Forever Unbridled passes on Shuvee

Coady Photography
Forever Unbridled paid $4.20 in winning the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Only three horses were entered in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga. One mare conspicuous by her absence was Forever Unbridled, the multiple Grade 1-winning mare who is sitting this one out to await the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here on Aug. 26.

Fri, 07/28/2017 - 15:16

World Approval targets Fourstardave

Barbara D. Livingston
World Approval, ridden by Julien Leparoux, wins the Dixie Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – World Approval is a four-time graded stakes winner going a route of ground, but for his next trick, the 5-year-old gray will attempt to win a Grade 1 stakes going a mile. World Approval is being pointed to the $500,000 Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 12 in what will be his first race at one mile since November 2014, when he ran third in a maiden race on the dirt at Aqueduct.